The brilliant performances of Erling Haaland are helping Man City still have the opportunity to win the “treble” this season. However, fans should not forget the name Julian Alvarez, one of the best “doubles” in the world at the moment, who is always ready to enter the field to explode.
Before the start of the 2022 World Cup, Alvarez scored 9 goals in 20 matches for Man City with 889 minutes played. It was these impressive performances that helped him receive the nod of coach Lionel Scaloni to board the train. to Qatar. After the first two matches of the group stage, only being able to come on as a substitute, Alvarez started the World Cup for the first time in the last match against Poland and contributed 1 goal.
After making his mark in the match against Poland, Alvarez started in all the remaining matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist; ended the campaign with the 2022 World Cup championship and 4 goals, among the most outstanding individual players of Argentina’s team next to superstar Lionel Messi and midfielder Enzo Fernandez .
Returning to Man City as a world champion, Alvarez continues to play the role of “super substitute” for Erling Haaland in the position of a striker, or sometimes plays alongside the Norwegian striker when coach Pep Guardiola Use a two forwards scheme. However, in detail, the role of the former River Plate player is no longer as important as it was before the 2022 World Cup.
12 matches in the Premier League since the 2022 World Cup, Alvarez only started 3 matches, 5 matches came on from the bench and there were 4 games that were not used, all when meeting strong opponents such as Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle. Out of those 12 matches, Alvarez has no goals and only 2 assists.
It can be seen that Alvarez is being obscured by Haaland’s too large shadow. The Norwegian striker has scored 42 goals in 37 appearances for the Etihad Stadium team this season, leaving Alvarez to grind his crotch on the bench.
Haaland played so explosively that Alvarez gradually lost the opportunity to play, but the Argentine striker still knows how to make a mark when given the opportunity by coach Guardiola, especially in domestic cup matches. Alvarez has started three of the four FA Cup matches this season and came on as a substitute, and has three goals and two assists to help City reach the semi-finals.
Coach Pep Guardiola once said of Alvarez: “I have seen Alvarez on TV, but I am still surprised because he plays so well. We were all impressed with his work ethic, his style as a striker. Alvarez always gives his best. When Haaland is not playing, Alvarez will definitely play.”
Just moved to Man City from the summer of 2022 for a fee of about £ 15 million and a salary of £ 50,000 / week, but Alvarez has recently been doubled in salary, with the same contract until June 2028. Obviously, Man City understands that they have a world-class “super-sub” and to conquer many tournaments, Alvarez is a perfect choice to split the fire with Haaland.
140 minutes/goal
With 12 goals in all competitions, Alvarez is just behind Haaland (42 goals) and Phil Foden (13 goals) in the list of the best goalscorers for Man City this season (equal to Riyad Mahrez). Alvarez has a performance of 140 minutes/goal and only Haaland (68 minutes/goal) has a better record.
